Village Idiot

Canales has completed his 2 year loan transfer to Valencia. They will have a buyout clause of €12m the first season and €15m the next, and Madrid a buyback clause of €2m more than Valencia paid. Great deal for everyone involved, I think. Also, as in every Real Madrid loan since Valdo tore them a new one years ago while on loan, he won't be able to play against Real Madrid.

I realise I'm more than late to the party, but what happened? S'gannin on? Aye, this.. Also, where the f*** is djmattis? I messaged him recently, he's quit the forum because he says he spends too much time on his computer and has more important stuff to do. Still lurks to read stuff now and again. He should do it like I do, and arrange it so his important stuff is all done through a computer. Hope to see him back anyway

Any new CBs in the frame? or just trust Fontas? If we sign a new defender it will probably be an LB (so Abidal can cover CB and to cover Abidal himself). I hope we do but it will hinge on how much we pay for Cesc. No loan now, pay later deals you could strike up a la Boateng at Milan? We already dipped in future season`s budgets in order to finance Cesc´s bid, don't think the board is willing to do it further. Of course, if we don´t land him that could change. But I really can´t see him staying at Arsenal after all what´s gone down. What I don´t understand is why we didn´t buy Botía back. He´s developing nicely and would have been great CB cover. But well, let´s hope Fontàs will make the step up (I think he's decent, but not ready to be thrown into big games). I suspect Mascherano will have more gametime as CB that as DM.

Any new CBs in the frame? or just trust Fontas? If we sign a new defender it will probably be an LB (so Abidal can cover CB and to cover Abidal himself). I hope we do but it will hinge on how much we pay for Cesc.

We have released Gaby Milito, who'll go to Independiente.

Possibly the best time they could have played Atlético though. Preseason barely started, they just lost their best player and haven´t got around to spend the windfall yet... Plus according to the Spanish color commentator "the ball bounces differently in Norway and they are used to it".

Don't think UEFA are to blame for Stoke's football, to be frank. Atlético's game is also pretty boring, they are content to sit back and the Norwegians don't have much to throw at them.

Before the WC Green was a decent - not great - keeper. His confidence just seemed to go to pot after that blunder.

Stromsomethingsomethinget 0 - Atlético 1 Get in.

For what is worth, my ManU supporter mate (and he's a proper ManU fan) says he's shite. Decent footwork but the awareness of a blind chicken.

Remember that poor Ashley Cole almost crashed his car when he was only offered 50k!

Will probably still be better than goal.com comments.

"Bantr", what a s*** name. Leaving out vowels in your internet start-up stopped sounding clever in 2007. Hope they can pull it off, but from the article it already looks they'll be hamstrung by all the licences and red tape.

He was highly rated, the buyback clause is a bit steep if we buy him in 2013 but he wasn't going to get senior starts with Mascherano and Busquets in front of him.

Paul the Octopus http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/7/15/1279193684789/Paul-the-octopus-005.jpg Legend

First time Pep concedes 4 goals that I can remember. Still just a friendly and we still haven't put out a remotely full strength team. We'll be a bit late for the Supercopa, probably.

Villarreal and Mallorca have entered talks over De Guzmán. "As" reports Mallorca is willing to accept a €5m offer.

The Spanish footballers union has threatened to delay the start of La Liga because of contract disagreements. They mostly demand increased guarantees that footballers will be paid given the sheer amount of financial problems all over the competition, with dozens of professional clubs in administration. It would probably mean something if they had followed through the last 20000000000000000 times they have threatened with stopping the competition.

Who are the first, three, out of curiosity? ManU/Liverpool/?

I was attempting some fabulously witty sarcasm. He was described as "underrated" on at least 13 billion occasions during his Chelsea career. Ah, I understand then. It was the same while at Real Madrid. I was left wondering who actually underrated him (apart from Pérez) since everybody said the same.

I don't think Makelele is underrated, people still talk of the "Makelele role" (which in truth predates him) for a reason. Great graph.

Zapater's decent. Not a patch on José Enrique though.

Damn good time you poached from somebody else! He's highly rated. Box to box mid with a great engine.

A lot of people are still wrapping up holidays so it should possible to get tickets for that despite being against quality opposition.

I'm itching to see him for one. Always wanted another forward that can run at defences and scare the shit out of them.